ICC to review code as Lanka try to avoid ban

Colombo, Oct 3: After Sri Lanka swapped its captains on Monday for their crucial tie against England, in order to avoid a ban after being warned for slow over-rate, ICC is all set to review the code and fix the loophole.

Shrewd Sri Lanka swap captains to avoid ban

Following a warning on Saturday for slow over-rate against West Indies, Mahela Jayawardene might have faced a one-match ban if the team recorded a slow over-rate against England as well, which prompted them to switch the captains which did not go well with the International Cricket Council.

It was surprising to see Kumar Sangakkara at the toss, as Mahela or his deputy Angelo Mathews should have ideally walked in, which created a flutter ahead of the match.

"I had a warning for an over rates issue, and if it happens again I miss the match so what we did was have Kumar as the official captain," Jayawardene said.

Jayawardene also added that the intentions weren't wrong and admitted that it was tough to bowl 20 overs within the stipulated time and defended the team's decision to swap captains for a crucial tie.

"I don't think that the intentions were wrong. It's a tough system and it's tough to bowl 20 overs in one hour and 20 minutes in a tournament like this ... We try our best, but the penalties are harsh," said Jayawardene after the Lanka won the match by 19 runs against England.

"We don't want to miss the big games, so we did it with the right intentions. Angelo Mathews was on the same offence for a match against Pakistan in Hambantota, so if he got nailed he misses a game as well. We had to find someone who didn't have a rap sheet and Kumar fitted the bill," he added.

Further he also added that this decision might also prompt ICC to change the rules.

"I'm sure they'll change the rules after this, but hopefully not in this tournament," Jayawardene said.

While Sami ul Hasan, ICC spokesperson also added that the cricketing body will review the code at the end of the tournament.

"As is always the case, the ICC will be reviewing the playing conditions and the code of conduct at the conclusion of the event," an ICC spokesperson Samiul Hasan told the Associated Press on Tuesday.